Portret van Carl Friedrich Trier 1763

Johann Martin Bernigeroth created this portrait of Carl Friedrich Trier using etching and engraving techniques. Trier, who lived from 1690 to 1763, was a high-ranking Saxon official during a time when social status was visually communicated through portraiture. The artwork captures Trier amidst symbols of authority and affluence. This representation underscores the importance of social standing in 18th-century Europe, where identity was often closely tied to one's position in the societal hierarchy. The very act of commissioning a portrait was a statement of power, reinforcing Trier's place within the established order. Portraits like these also served a personal purpose, solidifying family legacy and projecting an image of enduring influence. How might Trier have felt, seeing himself immortalized through this formal representation? Perhaps it was a reflection of his achievements, or a confirmation of his identity within a rigid social structure.